The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Pro Blazer Update: August 31
8/31/2026 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM - Going into the final full month of the professional season, nine former Blazers can see the finish line of the 2026 season. Of those nine players, two MLB players and one minor leaguer have postseason baseball on the horizon. Check out where they all stand in this edition of the Pro Blazer Update.
GRAHAM ASHCRAFT - CINCINNATI REDS
Hometown: Huntsville, Ala.
POS: RHP | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 248 | Bats/Throws: L/R | Played at UAB: 2019
2026 Stats:
Record: 1-1 | ERA: 3.33 | G: 26 | SV: 1 | IP: 27.0 | K: 32 | BB: 16 | WHIP: 1.22
Note: Ashcraft was sent to Triple-A Louisville on a rehab assignment on August 25. In his three outings with the Bats, Ashcraft has two scoreless appearances and has struck out four in 2.2 innings.
BREWER HICKLEN - ATLANTA BRAVES
Hometown: Huntsville, Ala.
POS: OF | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 220 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2015-17
2026 Stats:
AVG: .368 | AB: 19 | H: 7 | R: 6 | 2B: 4 | 3B: 0 | HR: 0 | RBI: 3 | BB: 4 | SB: 0 | OPS: 1.057
Note: Hicklen returned to the big league club on August 24. On Sunday, Hicklen scored the winning run in the 10th inning against the Colorado Rockies.
TYLER TOLBERT - KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Hometown: Trussville, Ala.
POS: Utility | Height: 5-10 | Weight 185 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2017-19
2026 Stats:
AVG: .307 | AB: 114 | H: 35 | R: 30 | 2B: 5 | 3B: 0 | HR: 3 | RBI: 8 | BB: 12 | SB: 20 | OPS: .805
Note: Dating back to August 25, Tolbert has recorded at least one hit in five of his last six games. In that same stretch, he has crossed the plate four times.
News: Click HERE to watch Tolbert drive in the tying runs on August 18 in an eventual win for Kansas City.
GARRETT WHITLOCK - BOSTON RED SOX
Hometown: Snellville, Ga.
POS: RHP | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 222 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2016-17
2026 Stats:
Record: 6-1 | ERA: 2.00 | G: 46 | SV: 2 | IP: 45.0 | K: 50 | BB: 7 | WHIP: 0.87
Note: Whitlock returned from the injured list and tossed a scoreless inning on August 29 against New York (AL). Whitlock finished the month of August with a 1.80 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP.
Watch: Click HERE to watch Whitlock throw a scoreless inning on August 29.
JAMES NAILE - KIA TIGERS (KOREA BASEBALL ORGANIZATION)
Hometown: Charleston, MO
POS: RHP | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 183 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2013-15
2026 Stats:
Record: 9-5 | ERA: 3.71 | G: 24 | GS: 24 | IP: 140.2 | K: 117 | BB: 29 | WHIP: 1.17 | QS: 15
Note: Since July 30, Naile has thrown four straight quality starts. In his last three starts, Naile has struck out 18 batters and walked just four in 19 innings. Nails ranks sixth among qualified pitchers with a 1.17 WHIP and seventh in strikeouts (117).
LOGAN BRAUNSCHWEIG - ROME EMPERORS (HIGH-A AFFILIATE OF THE ATLANTA BRAVES)
Hometown: Alabaster, Ala.
POS: OF | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 195 | Bats/Throws: L/R | Played at UAB: 2022-25
2026 Stats (High-A and AA):
AVG: .238 | AB: 282 | H: 67 | R: 32 | 2B: 8 | 3B: 1 | HR: 3 | RBI: 32 | SB: 16 | OPS: .655
Note: Similar to his time on the Southside, Braunschweig has drawn six walks in his last four games and has at least one in five of his last six games.
COLIN DANIEL - ROME EMPERORS (HIGH-A AFFILIATE OF THE ATLANTA BRAVES)
Hometown: Corner, Ala.
POS: RHP | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2023-25
2026 Stats:
Record: 2-6 | ERA: 5.20 | G: 13 | GS: 10 | IP: 55.1 | K: 60 | BB: 23 | WHIP: 1.34 | QS: 4
Note: Daniel was placed on the 60-day IL on July 13 and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season with a back injury.
NICK HOLLIFIELD - FREDERICKSBURG NATIONALS (SINGLE-A AFFILIATE OF THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS)
Hometown: Hoschton, Ga.
POS: C | Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190 | Bats/Throws: R/R | Played at UAB: 2023-25
2026 Stats:
AVG: .161 | AB: 124 | H: 20 | R: 24 | 2B: 4 | 3B: 0 | HR: 2 | RBI: 14 | SB: 1 | OPS: .573
Note: Hollifield landed on the 60-day IL with a hand injury on July 22.
MASON STEELE - ACL DIAMONDBACKS (COMPLEX LEAGUE AFFILIATE OF THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS)
Hometown: Headland, Ala.
POS: RHP | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195 | Bats/Throws: L/R | Played at UAB: 2026
Note: Steele is actively training in the Arizona Complex League after a busy season with the Green and Gold. Steele's workload is likely to be limited for the remainder of the season after throwing a team-high 75.1 innings pitched for the Blazers this spring.
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